So i'm copping out and asking (after a bit of poking around... don't want to lurk too much, you know what happens to lurkers...).

I would like to get two decks for this game. don't care how competetive. Are there, like.. starters? Can I buy a chapter pack or two and have a deck with them?

Thanks. LCGs are a funny format to me, especially with these 'chapter packs' which really don't appear to be complete decks...

Anyone made a dekc from one chapter pack's contents (multiple copies of it sure...)?

No, unfortunately, you won't be able to build a full deck out of a single chapter pack. At the very least, 50 cards is required for a legal deck. The resourcing system in CoC does allow for a "rainbow" deck of all factions, so you could build a legal deck with two Chapter packs, but it probably would not be very effective. My guess for a passable 2 faction deck would be what... 3 or 4 Chapter packs? What do the rest of you guys think?

As for starter decks, there are indeed starters and premium starters (2 deck starters with a handful of exclusive cards) for both the Arkham and Eldritch base sets. Eldritch would be the better pick between the two, particularly the premium starter. I'd be a bit wary of purchasing anything at the moment if you're interested in competitive play, as I've already seen from the AGoT side of things that current tournament regulations can change at the drop of a hat. I do expect things to stabalize soon, but I wouldn't make any difinitive calls about CoC rulings until after the Core set actually hits the streets.

I suppose I should have mentioned I DO have an idea of TCGs... and CoC as well. I just haven't played it or bought anything for it since its second set (the first expansion) and don't have those cards anymore. heh. As such... um really I was just asking

HEY I WANT TO PLAY A BIT OF THIS GAME, what can I buy to make a deck, make it cheap? (doesn't have to be great, just playable).

Right, I was just saying that it does matter some if you're planning on using that deck for official tournaments or just for casual play.

As a beginner, I give you the advice to wait for the core-set (January 2009). I wouldn't buy any of the ccg stuff as they have different card backs, etc. If this doesn't bother you, you could buy an old starter to get a feel for the game. However I wouldn't invest too much in the ccg stuff.

Right, as stated above. I want to get in to this 'cheaply' at first. So high calibur winning deck is relevant, and something that's not 'officially legal' after january or february or whenever ffg is able to release it is kinda irrelevant... but I WOULD like to buy newer product.

SO as such. New chapter packs = the suck for making a deck then? (hmm... seems like a bit of a flaw in chapter packs?)

vermillian said:

The Asylum Packs expand your cardpool and excisting strategies. You need an initial strategy for them to work. Call of Cthulhu Core Set will help you fine, as will excisting Starter Packs (but for the latter you'll need sleeves, because the cardback is different.)

It's easiest if you think of Asylum packs as fixed boosters. I wouldn't be able to play UFS for instance if I just purchased 2 or 3 boosters.

No but I CAN make a UFS deck if I buy like... 24 booster packs. But usually we recommend casual players to buy a starter.

So the suggestion is go out and buy a starter, and AS ALWAYS IN TCGs buyer beware (as things might get banned or errata'd or format change for OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT PLAY which I won't mind if I plan on entering official tournament play, ebcause by then I'd of committed to shelling out a few bucks to play in such a thing as far as card stock investment and won't mind a few things changing up at all).

I'll go and buy two old starters if I can find them, and then wait for core set! And avoid the asylum packs.

Lol, if you bought 24 Asylum Packs (provided you varied which ones they were) You could probably build several decks.

vermillian said:

So far there is no indication that anything from the starter gets banned. Well, some starters do have a random element, which could land you a Ritual card that is banned, but these cases are incredibly rare. And, in a case that there is a Legacy Highlander format, some events may actually allow those.

So, getting in now is a good idea, if you find a starter. Because the game is quite good.

the core set is out isn't it? or is there a new core set to be released in '09. i'm looking to start playing this game too..

oops, not out yet.